Personal Resolutions

I typically don't make New Year's resolutions; but rather, I make New Year's philosophies. I find that a new philosophy is easier to follow than "new rules" for life. And I wasn't really focusing on a new philosophy for 2011, but this morning, it just came to me in the shower. I find it interesting how some of my best thoughts come to me while I'm in the shower. 

My new shower driven philosophy for the New Year is this: 

Breathe more deeply; Live more deeply; Love more deeply.

As a society, we Americans really don't know how to breathe. When I turned 38, I took lessons in yoga. The greatest thing I learned from yoga is how to breathe. I discovered that I hadn't been breathing correctly all my life. Amazing things happen when more oxygen enters your body.  Not only were my sinuses and nasal passages clearer, but my head was clearer, too. I gained vision and energy. Unfortunately, it's been a long time since I've practiced yoga, and I have discovered that I need to make time to breathe again; to center myself and become more energized.

I also find that I get so caught up in the day to day that I forget to truly live; to take pleasure in every little thing life has to offer. And to make plans. Don't forget to make plans; otherwise life will have a way of slipping right on by. Plan to visit friends, take a class or a vacation. Maybe the plans will have to change, but working, dreaming and living towards a plan of some sort adds an extra spice to life and makes life seem richer and more rewarding.

And don't forget to love. And not just those you care about, but everyone you meet each day. It really doesn't cost anything to smile at a stranger and make their day a little better. And it's important to not just love others but yourself as well. Having spent over 30 years as a wife and mother, I find it's easy to spend all your love on others and forget yourself; and then there's nothing left to give to others. Loving yourself and taking time to do the things you know are truly good for you will give you more love to give to others.

And while you're about the business of making a new philosophy, a personal mission statement isn't a bad idea either. Mine is to: 

Create beauty and produce positive energy -

As an artist, I strive to make art that will bring beauty to other people's lives. I'm not about making a social statement or something that will shock the viewer. And when I receive phone calls and /or letters from collectors who tell me how much joy my artwork has brought them, the feeling of joy I receive in return is more than I can even describe.

And the creation of beauty plays hand in hand with the production of positive energy. Everything in the universe is made up of energy and that includes our thoughts. They are electrical impulses and they are not stagnant. I find it poisonous to dwell upon negative thoughts and derogatory comments. It poisons me and it poisons those around me. I have found that by looking for and commenting in the good of others or in situations around me, life is so much better and people are so much kinder. Many might scoff at prayer, but I'm a firm believer that that is another way to produce positive energy. I have seen and felt the effects. It doesn't matter what you believe in or who you pray to, the positive energy gets out there.

Producing positive energy 100% of the time is probably not possible, but it is a worthy goal. I know that I'll still cuss out deranged drivers and whine about incompetent politicians, but more of my thoughts will be directed toward what's good in life.

So Happy New Year, and if you want to share, I'd love to hear about your aspirations and goals for the year ahead.

Cold Moon and Lunar Eclipse

                                 December 21, 2010 - Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse

Did you know that the full moon in December is known as the Cold Moon? It's also known as the Long Night Moon, Oak Moon, Frost Moon and Moon Before Yule. 

 

I've been obsessed with the moon since I was a tiny little girl. It began as a fearful obsession. My father unwittingly caused me to be afraid of the moon by pointing out the "man in the moon," and my imagination took over from there. I had a recurring nightmare starring the man in the moon  from which I awoke with a start when his disembodied voice began to talk to me from the sky in a disapproving tone and I could hear my heart  pounding in my ears.

By the time I was school aged, I had worked through my fears and and instead of feeling terror at the moon, I reveled in its beauty in all its phases. (Although I still occasionally have those dreams where a disembodied voice from the sky talks to me in a disapproving tone.)

I can still clearly remember the first time I witnessed a lunar eclipse. It was Saturday, the night before Easter, April 13, 1968. I was on vacation in Florida and the evening was warm. To my 11 year old mind, the totally eclipsed moon resembled  a perfectly toasted marshmallow. And another special lunar eclipse that I remember was the night of my senior prom, May 25, 1975. 

I can well understand that a lunar eclipse struck fear in the hearts of people ages ago who didn't understand the workings of the solar system. I find it interesting that we are still awestruck by this phenomenon although we know it's only a matter of shadows. 

And I, for one, will continue to be forever fascinated by the night sky and the mystery that is our universe.